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Measuring the health of business nodes

Hartshorne, Wendy Anne (2005-04)

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.

Thesis

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa requires sustained economic growth in order to alleviate the poverty of its
urban population.
This study is based on the hypothesis that in order to sustain the existing "good"
infrastructure and secure the "high-quality" human resource base of our country, it is
necessary to be proactive with regard to the management of commercial/business
nodes in order to ensure that they do not deteriorate or become stifled and/or
excluded from delivering their full economic potential/contribution towards the urban
economy.
This study contains a synopsis of the research conducted by the author on behalf of
the City of Cape Town - Economic Development and Tourism Directorate during
2003. The purpose was to develop a uniform model to ascertain and monitor the
economic health of business areas within the Cape Town metropole. The research
was presented to the City of Cape Town in the form of a protocol, which has
subsequently been utilised to establish economic profiles for the Athlone Central
Business District, Gatesville/Rylands business centre and Airport Industria.
The focus and purpose of the protocol was to place tbe City Council in a position
whereby the relative economic health of specific business/mixed-use areas within the
Cape Metropolitan Area can be properly assessed, selected interventions made
where necessary and results monitored. The point of departure that was adopted from
the outset was that the assessment need not just relate to negative trends or
indications of economic distress, but that there is substantial merit in assessing nodes
that are seemingly "getting it right" or "booming".